Re: Searching for "the ba

Katie, that's not a bad budget for your first "pro" level bass, but the some of the makers you mention are gonna fall oputside that range.Preston (?I assume you mean Prescott), Lott, Grunert, are all generally above $18,000. Wilfer does make some basses that can be had starting (new) at about $5000.Have you checked out the Kolstein factory basses? I e-correspond with a guy who has the Kolstein Fendt copy (and uses it for orchestral work with the Army band)and is very happy with the sound.They are $8000-8500. they also make copies of a Maggini and a Panormo.There is a British luthier named Paul Bryant that makes copies of the Lott and the Panormo (again I have heard from a fellow that plays with a Dutch orchestra that the Bryant Lott stands up very well to older basses in his section).Steve Kosica in Phoenix generally has a couple of the Bryant basses. But also check the Classified sections of stringbass.com or at Bob Gollihur's website. Or even at this site...